The quality of native pasture in cattle raising areas on ultramafic groundmass, in the municipality of Minas, Cama-güey, Cuba,  was assessed. The area studied has brown Fersialitic, ferromagnesial soil (Inceptisol-Cambisol). The climate is tropical humid. Dry matter, calcium, phosphorous and raw protein were estimated for compound samples of the predominant pastures, using an AOAC  methodology at the Provincial Soil Management, in Camagüey. De-scriptive statistics for the bromatological composition (mean and standard error) were determined, considering every species, season and group. Group comparison was made by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Legume quality in both seasons had protein levels above 7 % in all the cases; whereas graminaceae quality had values under that percent. In all the cases, the contents of P are insufficient to meet the minimum needs, and the protein and calcium values   are near the required limits for cattle

Curbelo Rodríguez, Lino

Guevara Viera, Raúl

Loyola Hernández, Oscar

Triana González, Delmy

Valido Tomés, Arelys

English

Portal de Revistas - Universidad de Camagüey

Rev. prod. anim., 27 (1): 2015 I S S N  2 2 2 4 - 7 9 2 0    Native Pasture Quality in Cattle Raising Areas on Ultramafic Groundmass Oscar Loyola Hernández*, Delmy Triana González*, Arelys Valido Tomés*, Lino Curbelo Rodríguez**, Raúl Guevara Viera** * Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Camagüey, Cuba  ** Center for Animal Production Studies, University of Camagüey, Cuba  oscar.loyola@reduc.edu.cu ABSTRACT The quality of native pasture in cattle raising areas on ultramafic groundmass, in the municipality of Minas, Cama-güey, Cuba, was assessed. The area studied has brown Fersialitic, ferromagnesial soil (Inceptisol-Cambisol).  The climate is tropical humid. Dry matter, calcium, phosphorous and raw protein were estimated for compound samples of the predominant pastures, using an AOAC methodology at the Provincial Soil Management, in Camagüey. De-scriptive statistics for the bromatological composition (mean and standard error) were determined, considering every species, season and group. Group comparison was made by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Legume quality in both seasons had protein levels above 7 % in all the cases; whereas graminaceae quality had values under that percent. In all the cases, the contents of P are insufficient to meet the minimum needs, and the protein and calcium values are near the required limits for cattle. Key Words: fersialitic, bromatological composition, protein levels  INTRODUCTION Forage production is the nutritional base for ruminant systems in most tropical countries, where at least, between 80 and 90 % of nutrients required by animals are pastures. Therefore, the quality of that resource greatly depends on the an-imal productive response (Del Pozo, 2002; Curbe-lo, 2004; Hernández et al., 2008). Multiple nutrient differences have been ob-served in Cuba, in several cattle raising areas, de-pending on the herd´s physiological indicators and the productive features. Accordingly, it is necessary to continue to study this topic, due to the current deteriorated conditions of the pas-turelands (Gutiérrez and Crespo, 2003). The economic situation of the country calls for an efficient use of local resources to cope with the production demands of the time. Recovery and ra-tional use of native pastures is an imperative to achieve cattle raising increases (Diez et al., 2005). Consequently, to meet that challenge it is im-portant to know the nutritional value of the pas-ture species in each ecosystem, in order to design suitable management strategies.   The purpose of this research is to evaluate the quality of native pastures in cattle raising areas, on Camagüey´s ultramafic groundmass.   MATERIALS AND METHODS Location Records from Los Pinos UEB, from the Trian-gulo Tres Cattle Raising Company, in Camagüey were used to evaluate 150 calvings that took place between 2014 and 2013, in a Jersey female herd, between 38 and 126 months of age, inseminated with Jersey bull semen.   Herd Working System Natural breeding is applied with restricted suck-ling (30-40 min) after each manual milking, twice; weaning is 270 days after calving.  The animals graze the year round on varied pas-ture, including Camagüeyan (Bothriocha per-tusa), Texan (Paspalum notatum), Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbems), Guinea (Panicum maxi-mum), and some areas with sugar cane (Sac-charum officinarum) and king grass (Pennisetum sp) forages for the feeding troughs.  Data collection and processing The data were collected from individual repro-duction control cards. The reproductive features, as service period (PS) in days; calving interval (IPP) in days; length of gestation (DG) in days; and gestation service (S/G) days in inseminations performed, were included. To estimate the repro-ductive features and the effect of the non-genetic factors affecting them, SPSS (2006), version 11.5 was used to calculate the basic statgraph, analyze Native Pasture Quality in Cattle Raising Areas on Ultramafic Groundmass   Rev. prod. anim., 27 (1): 2015 variable normality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test), the Levene´s test, and multiple linear analysis of variance of each dependent variable.  The variation causes used in the mathematic model were offspring sex (2); calving number (7); calving season (2) in the dry season (November to April), and the rainy season (May to October); and the calving year (10), to study the reproduc-tive features.  To study the different non-genetic variation causes that affected the features studied, the fol-lowing mathematical model was used,  Yijklm= µ + Si +Nj +Ek +Al +eijklm Where: Yijklm: dependent variable for PS, IPP, DG and S/G, corresponding to the I th individual of ijkm subclass. M: general mean. Si: fixed effect of the I th offspring sex (2). Nj: fixed effect of j th calving number (7). Ek: fixed effect of k th calving season (2). Al: fixed effect of l th calving year (10). eijklm: residual effect, or experimental error. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1 shows the observations, according to the effects considered in the mathematical model, with a rather stable distribution. Bromatological composition of pastures  The mean pasture chemical composition of the areas studied (Table 1) indicates low protein and calcium values, as well as for phosphorous, which is probably the main element limiting production on these kinds of soils (Acosta, 2003; Curbelo, 2004; Curbelo, Loyola and Guevara, 2009). The grazing animals may also select more nutritive parts of the pasture, which may be feasible, be-cause the animal stocking rate does not exceed by far the livestock units per hectare.  The bromatological composition of the main legume species and graminaceae that make up the grassland during the rainy and dry seasons is shown in Tables 2 and 3. The quality of the for-mer is higher than the latter in either season, with protein levels above 7% in all the cases; the gra-minaceae has lower values. In all the cases, phos-phorous contents were insufficient to meet the minimum demands of bovines, though plants seem to have found mechanisms to grow with limited amounts of the elements (Curbelo et al., 2009). Centrosema virginianum (L.) Benth. (C. de negra) and Ateleia cubensis (DC) Dietr. var. cu-bensis (Griseb.) Mohlenber (Capparis) stand above 10%. The latter reached 19%, higher than the values reported by Pedraza (2000) in Cama-güey, for Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.), Kunth ex Walp (Kakaoati), a species that shows promise for use as protein supplement for bovines.  Table 4 shows the combined behavior of the species in the area, with a slight increase in the protein levels of associated graminaceae, in com-parison with individual graminaceae, which also shows the benefits produced by legume popula-tion increases.  Significant differences were observed (P < 0.001) among graminaceae, legumes, and as-sociated graminaceae, in terms of MS, PB, P, K and Ca contents. However, magnesium had a sim-ilar behavior for the three groups assessed.  It is remarkable that associated graminaceae had higher PB, K and Ca contents than individual graminaceae. It may shed some light on the ad-vantages of graminaceae-legume association un-der these edafoclimatic conditions. Similar results were found by Benítez et al. (2001), Hernández (2002) and Loyola (2012), in the same agro-ecosystems. Research conducted on Panamanian arid soils with forest-grazing systems, show that the integration of Acacia mangium Wild (acacia) in pastures, with Brachiaria humidicola, contrib-uted to forage quality improvement in gramina-ceae, as well as increases in phosphorous and soil nitrogen contents, when compared with B. hu-midicola monocultures (Alonso, 2011). The relationship between the lack of proper management and the age of reshoots is also re-markable. The older the reshoots, the lower the quality of pastures, which is directly associated with changes in the metabolic activity and struc-ture of the plant. It causes an increase in structural elements and a decrease in soluble carbohydrates, protein and minerals; along with digestibility (Del Pozo, 2002). CONCLUSIONS In all the cases, the phosphorous contents were insufficient to meet the animals´ minimum re-quirements. The protein and calcium values are close to the required limits for cattle. O. Loyola, Delmy Triana, Arelys Valido, L. Curbelo, R. Guevara Rev. prod. anim., 27 (1): 2015    REFERENCES ACOSTA, Z. (2003). Cambio en la composición florís-ti-ca de una sabana ultramáfica con suelos mejora-dos. Ultramafic rocks: Their Soils, Vegetation and Fauna. Fourt Internacional Conference on Serpen-tine Ecology. ALONSO, J. (2011). Los sistemas silvopastoriles y su contribución al medio ambiente. Revista Cubana de Ciencia Agrícola, 45, (2), 107-115.  AOAC. (1995). Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (Vol. 1). Virginia, USA: Editorial AOAC. BENÍTEZ, D.; FERNÁNDEZ, I. y GÓMEZ, I. (2001). In-clusión de dos leguminosas en el Rendimiento y Calidad de Chloris gayana vc. Callide en el Valle del Cauto. Revista Cubana de Ciencia Agrícola, 35 (4), 407-411.  CURBELO, L. M. (2004). Alternativas forraje ganade-ría para las sabanas infértiles del norte de Cama-güey. Disertación doctoral no publicada, Universi-dad de Camagüey, Cuba. CURBELO, L.; LOYOLA, O. y GUEVARA, R. (2009). Ac-ciones para la recuperación y mejora-miento de pastizales nativos en las sabanas serpen-tiníticas del norte de Camagüey. Revista de Pro-ducción Animal, 20 (1), 55-58. DEL POZO, P. P. (2002). Bases ecofisiológicas del ma-nejo de los pastos. PASTOS, 32 (2), 109-137. RIVERO, R. (2010). Consideraciones sobre los cam-bios climáticos en Camagüey y su efecto en la ga-nadería. Camagüey, Cuba: Centro Meteorológico de Camagüey. DIEZ, N. J.; CASTILLO, A. y LICEA, O. (2005). Efecto de la mejora de los pastos y forrajes en los índices productivos de la vaquería “pelabobo 2”. I Con-greso Internacional de Producción Animal. III Foro Latinoamericano de Pastos y Forrajes, Institu-to de Ciencia Animal, La Habana, Cuba. GUTIÉRREZ, O. y CRESPO, G. (2003). Considera-ciones preliminares acerca de la relación suelo-planta-animal en las condiciones agroecológicas ac-tua-les de Cuba. Ponencia presentada en II Foro La-ti-noamericano de Pastos y Forrajes, Instituto de Ciencia Animal, La Habana: Cuba. HERNÁNDEZ, J. M. (2002). Diversificación agrícola como alternativa viable para alcanzar la sostenibi-lidad en fincas lecheras comerciales. Tesis de maestría, Universidad de Camagüey, Cuba. HERNÁNDEZ, L.; FRAGA, S. y BERTHA, S. (2008). Me-canismos de adaptación fisiológica y edafocli-má-ticas con el ecosistema. Revista Cubana de Ciencia Agrícola, 42 (4), 403. HERNÁNDEZ, A.; PÉREZ, J. M.; MARZON, R.; MORALES, M. y LÓPEZ, R. (1999). Correlación de la nueva versión de clasificación genética de los suelos de Cuba con clasificaciones internacionales (Soil Taxonomy y FAO UNESCO). Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba: Instituto de Suelos, Ministerio de la Agricultura. LOYOLA, O. (2012). Integración de leguminosas nati-vas, árboles frutales y multipropósitos en sistemas de producción vacuna en sabanas ultramáficas del norte de Camagüey. Tesis de doctorado, Uni-versidad de Camagüey, Cuba. PEDRAZA, R. (2000). Valoración nutritiva del follaje de Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp. y su efecto en el ambiente ruminal. Tesis de doctorado, Universidad de Camagüey, Cuba. SPSS (2006). SPSS 15.0 para Windows. Versión 15.0.1.www.spss.com. Received: 22-9-2014 Accepted: 1-10-2014  Table 1. Mean bromatological composition of the pasture land in the seasons of the year (Mean + ES) Variable Season Year Rainy Dry M.S 29.86+ 0.386 31.05+0.401 30.46+0.280 P.B 7.55+0.340 6.96+0.338 7.26+0.240 P 0.09+0.011 0.06+0.002 0.08+0.006 K 0.42+ 0.013 0.28+0.012 0.36+0.010 Ca 0.61+ 0.020 0.44+0.024 0.53+0.017 Mg 0.38+0.012 0.22+0.008 0.30+0.009        Table 2. Bromatological composition of the main species (% of MS) in the rainy season (Mean ± ES) Species Nutrients MS PB P K Ca Mg S. hamata   32.25+0.453 8.9+0.0402 0.08+0.003 0.5+0.016 0.9+0.007 0.5+0.007 S. viscosa  26.5+0.327 8.9+0.084 0.07+0.006 0.5+0.013 0.7+0.013 0.6+0.006 C. virginianum 26.6+0.423 11.0+0.130 0.13+0.006 0.7+0.028 1.0+0.022 0.3+0.009 D. incanum DC. var. an-gustifolium  15.6+0.263 7.4+0.099 0.07+0.003 0.5+0.012 0.6+0.009 0.4+0.019 A. cubensis  31.0+1.799 20.5+0.144 0.17+0.004 0.6+0.033 1.08+0.002 0.5+0.035 Graminaceae 31.1+0.292 4.50+0.076 0.12+0.044 0.3+0.009 0.4+0.016 0.4+0.006   Table 1. Bromatological composition of the main species (% of MS) in the rainy season (Mean ± ES) Species Nutrients MS PB P K Ca Mg S. hamata  36.7+0.590 8.1+0.253 0.06+0.002 0.3+0.009 0.7+0.011 0.2+0.005 S. viscosa  30.3+0.453 8.1+0.100 0.06+0.001 0.3+0.014 0.4+0.007 0.3+0.007 C. virginianum  27.6+0.375 10.2+0.149 0.10+0.003 0.5+ 0.012 0.8+0.007 0.1+0.004 D. incanum DC. var. an-gustifolium  16.38+0.653 6.6+0.046 0.05+ 0.000 0.3+ 0.004 0.4+0.019 0.2+0.004 A. cubensis  31.5+0.267 19.9+0.377 0.17+0.004 0.58+0.026 1.03+0.012 0.47+0.025 Graminaceae 34.25+0.588 3.8+0.126 0.06+0.002 0.1+0.012 0.1+0.015 0.1+0.008    Table 4. Bromatological composition of pastureland components (Mean ± DS) Variable Components Legumes Graminaceae Associated graminaceae M.S. 28.9+5.631 32.72+2.399 31.78+1.693 P.B. 9.5+0.359 4.45+0.423 5.21+0.729 P 0.08+0.041 0.09+0.129 0.08+0.128 K 0.45+0.136 0.25+0.096 0.27+0.155 Ca 0.72+0.214 0.30+0.141 0.35+0.151 Mg 0.31+0.156 0.31+ 0.123 0.28+0.132    

Native Pasture Quality in Cattle Raising Areas on Ultramafic Groundmass.

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Native Pasture Quality in Cattle Raising Areas on Ultramafic Groundmass.

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